Daily Bible Study

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Day 2 2 Peter 2 2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not. 4 For if God spared not the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those who after should live ungodly; 7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 But chiefly them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they who count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and who cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb donkey speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those who were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. The world we live in has turned a blind eye to the evil taking place in our world. They are like the three monkeys with a difference – they close their ears to the vulgarity coming from people’s mouths. They blindfold their eyes to the indecent behavior between men and women of the same sex. And they refuse to listen to the truth of the recompense God promises for their behavior. Peter told the people those people were already condemned by God. They would get their full reward. As Christians, we have become numb to the world around us. We tolerate and we take part in the indecency. What will be our reward? What defense will we give when we stand before God? James told the people they were as much a sinner as those who took an active part in the sin. James 4:17 Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin. You are not to take part in what society is dishing up. You are to turn away from it and do what Peter said earlier. 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians, you are not to hate the person who takes part in this unlawful behavior, but you are to love them and show them the truth of God’s love for them. You are not to condemn their behavior, that’s reserved for God. You are not to take part in their behavior. Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. When you love people as God loves them, and hate the sin they partake in, you do well. It’s time to open your eyes to what is happening in the world and turn from it. Those who follow the ways of the world look at you and condemn you because you don’t love them as Jesus commanded. They also see you as no different from them because you partake in their corruption. Let’s pray: Father, help me love people as You love them, and not condemn them for their corruption because that is reserved for You. You are their Judge, not me. Keep me away from those things which harm my soul and make me as corrupt as the world around me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 19 June 2019 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay